E-Commerce Blog

PC users purchased record numbers of Windows licenses in the last three months of 2009, driving big gains for Microsoft over the company’s second fiscal quarter, the first quarter in which the company’s Windows 7 OS was on retail shelves. For its quarter ended Dec. 31, Microsoft reported net income of $6.66 billion, or 74 cents per share, from $4.17 billion, or 47 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue rose to $19.02 billion from $16.63 billion the same quarter a year ago. Microsoft’s performance for the quarter beat Wall Street estimates by 15 cents.

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Windows 7 Launch Sends Microsoft Profits Skyward

The early indicators that Windows 7 is doing well seem to be piling up. CEO Steve Ballmer gave that perception a boost at the company’s annual shareholders meeting on Thursday, announcing that Microsoft “has already sold twice as many units of Windows 7 than any other operating system ever launched in a comparable time.” Do the early numbers indicate that Windows 7 may be strong enough to cheer the shareholders of other companies — namely, battered computer OEMs, like Dell, that are counting on it to jumpstart PC sales?

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Ballmer Gives Shareholders - and Dell - Cause for Optimism

Apple’s iPhone is making its long-awaited formal debut in the world’s most populous mobile phone market, without a key feature and at higher prices than widely available black market models. Apple’s local service provider, China Unicom, hopes the iPhone will give it an edge against giant rival China Mobile, the world’s biggest phone company by subscribers. Unicom was to start selling iPhones equipped for third-generation service Friday night at 2,000 stores in areas as far-flung as Tibet.

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Lack of WiFi Puts Damper on iPhone’s China Debut

Small businesses frequently rely on a haphazard assortment of tools to manage their CRM processes, such as email, contact managers and spreadsheets. However, such methods are usually not sustainable or scalable. “Their customer data ends up fragmented across 10 different applications and physical locations,” said Dmitri Eroshenko, CEO of Relenta. A good CRM solution can help small businesses tremendously by reducing data fragmentation and administrative tasks. Team and individual productivity will then increase.

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CRM for the Small Biz: Turning Agony Into Ecstasy

Amazon has introduced a new shortcut for consumers to pay for their purchases on Amazon.com and partner Web sites. Amazon PayPhrase lets shoppers pick their own phrase — for example, “Knick Knack” or “Jack’s Allowance” — and use it in lieu of entering a credit card number to make purchases. The phrase is accompanied by a pre-established PIN. The service will be available to all Web sites that accept Checkout by Amazon — the retailer’s selection of payment options — including DKNY, Jockey, Patagonia, Buy.com, J&R Electronics and Car Toys.

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Amazon Lets Users Shop Around With a Single Phrase